Potent targeted larvicidal activities of marine-derived Bacillus sp. bacterial extracts on mosquito vectors.

Mosquito vector-borne diseases are one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity across the globe. Current vector control strategies mainly rely on chemical insecticides, but their incessant usage has resulted in the development of resistance. Insecticidal agents of microbial origin have proven as good alternative tools for vector control of mosquito.

Microneedle electrodes: materials, fabrication methods, and electrophysiological signal monitoring-narrative review.

Flexible, microneedle-based electrodes offer an innovative solution for high-quality physiological signal monitoring, reducing the need for complex algorithms and hardware, thus streamlining health assessments, and enabling earlier disease detection. These electrodes are particularly promising for improving patient outcomes by providing more accurate, reliable, and long-term electrophysiological data, but their clinical adoption is hindered by the limited availability of large-scale population testing. This review examines the key advantages of flexible microneedle electrodes, including their ability to conform to the skin, enhance skin-electrode contact, reduce discomfort, and deliver superior signal fidelity.

Diel modulation of perireceptor activity influences olfactory sensitivity in diurnal and nocturnal mosquitoes.

Olfaction and diel-circadian rhythm regulate different behaviors, including host-seeking, feeding, and locomotion, in mosquitoes that are important for their capacity to transmit disease. Diel-rhythmic changes of the odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) in olfactory organs are primarily accountable for olfactory rhythmicity. To better understand the molecular rhythm regulating nocturnal and diurnal behaviors in mosquitoes, we performed a comparative RNA-sequencing study of the peripheral olfactory and brain tissues of female Anopheles culicifacies and Aedes aegypti.

Diagnostic techniques for visceral leishmaniasis: An overview of methods used in East Africa.

Leishmanias is a parasitic infection caused by a protozoan belonging to the genus Leishmania and transmitted by sand fly, Phlebotomus fly in the old world and Lutzomyia in the New world. The disease is prevalent in the tropics, subtropics, and Southern Europe, where it affects about 1.5 million to 2 million people annually.

Comparison of different maximal isometric strength of lower limb muscle groups in predicting fall-risk among older persons.

Background: Many independent studies have investigated the role of normalized maximal voluntary isometric strength (MVIS) of lower limb muscle groups (MVISLLMG) by body weight and summed knee and ankle muscle strength in predicting the risk of falling among older persons. However, it is unknown which MVISLLMG is better at predicting the fall risk.

Objective: This study aimed to compare different MVISLLMG in predicting fall-risk among older persons against the reference standard (history of falls).

Monitoring alpha-cypermethrin susceptibility of Phlebotomus argentipes, the vector of visceral leishmaniasis in India, using the CDC bottle bioassay.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), known as Kala-azar on the Indian subcontinent, is a parasitic disease caused by the flagellated protozoa Leishmania donovani and can be fatal if left untreated. The sand fly Phlebotomus argentipes is the only proven vector of VL in the Southeast Asia region, and VL control in this region has relied on the use of synthetic insecticides for indoor residual spraying (IRS). The use of DDT in VL control programmes has led to the development of resistance to this insecticide in sand flies, resulting in DDT being replaced with the insecticide alpha-cypermethrin.

Dogs as Reservoirs for Leishmania donovani, Bihar, India, 2018-2022.

Visceral leishmaniasis derived from Leishmania donovani is transmitted by sand flies (Phlebotomus argentipes) throughout the Indian subcontinent. Although considered anthroponotic, L. donovani infects other mammals susceptible to sand fly bites, including dogs.

A cub and sushi domain-containing protein with esterase-like activity confers insecticide resistance in the Indian malaria vector Anopheles stephensi.

Chemical insecticides (organophosphates and pyrethroids) in the form of IRS (Indoor Residual Sprays) and LLINs (Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets) are the cornerstone for vector control, globally. However, their incessant use has resulted in widespread development of resistance in mosquito vectors, warranting continuous monitoring and investigation of the underlying mechanisms of resistance. Here, we identified a previously uncharacterized- Cub and Sushi Domain containing Insecticide Resistance (CSDIR) protein and generated evidence for its role in mediating insecticide resistance in the Anopheles stephensi.

Investigational new drugs for the treatment of leishmaniasis.

Introduction: Over the past 20 years, significant progress has been made in anti-leishmanial therapy. Three new drugs/formulations are available for the treatment of various forms of leishmaniasis, namely oral miltefosine, paromomycin and liposomal amphotericin B. However, these advances in drug development have added considerable complexity for clinicians including toxicity, emergence of resistance and decreased sensitivity of available drugs.

Film Coating of Phosphorylated Mandua Starch on Matrix Tablets for pH-Sensitive Release of Mesalamine.

Chemically modified mandua starch was successfully synthesized and applied to coat mesalamine-loaded matrix tablets. The coating material was an aqueous dispersion of mandua starch modified by sodium trimetaphosphate and sodium tripolyphosphate. To investigate the colon-targeting release competence, chemically modified mandua starch film-coated mesalamine tablets were produced using the wet granulation method followed by dip coating.

Malaria Vector Bionomics: Countrywide Surveillance Study on Implications for Malaria Elimination in India.

Background: The biological characteristics of mosquito vectors vary, impacting their response to control measures. Thus, having up-to-date information on vector bionomics is essential to maintain the effectiveness of existing control strategies and tools, particularly as India aims for malaria elimination by 2030.

Objective: This study aims to assess the proportions of vector species resting indoors and outdoors, determine their preference for host biting/feeding, identify transmission sites, and evaluate the susceptibility of vectors to insecticides used in public health programs.

Visceral Leishmaniasis-Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Coinfected Patients Are Highly Infectious to Sandflies in an Endemic Area in India.

In an area endemic with Indian visceral leishmaniasis (VL), we performed direct xenodiagnosis to evaluate the transmission of Leishmania donovani from patients with VL-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection to the vector sandflies, Phlebotomus argentipes. Fourteen patients with confirmed VL-HIV coinfection, with a median parasitemia of 42 205 parasite genome/mL of blood, were exposed to 732 laboratory-reared pathogen-free female P argentipes sandflies on their lower arms and legs. Microscopy revealed that 16.

Level of Satisfaction Towards Healthcare Services in Patients Attending Psychiatry Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern India.

Background: Patients' satisfaction with healthcare services contributes to their compliance with the treatment and thus impacts their health. Therefore, patient satisfaction is increasingly being used as an indicator of health system performance in a country. Though several studies have been reported from different parts of India, most did not include psychiatric patients.

Color Doppler Ultrasound Indices as Predictors of Propranolol Response in Infantile Hemangioma: A Prospective Study.

Objective: To evaluate the utility of color Doppler ultrasonography in assessing infantile hemangioma response to treatment with oral propranolol.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted between January, 2016 and December, 2022, wherein children with symptomatic (ulceration, bleeding, pain and scarring) infantile hemangioma were given oral propranol (2 mg/kg per day in three divided doses) as outpatient therapy. The clinical response was assessed three months post-initiation of treatment (intermediate clinical response) and three months post-completion of treatment (final clinical response, FCR).

Efficacy of Individualized Homeopathic Medicines in the Treatment of Hemorrhoids: Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

To investigate the efficacy and safety of individualized homeopathic medicines (IHMs) in treating hemorrhoids compared with placebo. This is a double-blind, randomized (1:1), two parallel arms, placebo-controlled trial. The trial was conducted at the surgery outpatient department of the State National Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Evaluating Ayurvedic mouthwash and soda-salt mouthwash for oral mucositis in head and neck cancer: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) or concurrent chemo-radiation (CCRT) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) often suffer from side effects such as mucositis, xerostomia, pharyngitis, laryngitis, and pain, which are being managed symptomatically by alcohol-based mouthwashes.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of Ayurvedic mouthwash "Draksha Guduchyadi Kashaya" in reducing the severity of oral side effects of chemo-radiation.

Material And Methods: This concurrent parallel randomized controlled study was conducted at Sir Sunderlal Hospital, BHU, on 70 HNSCC patients scheduled to undergo RT/CCRT.

Wuchereria bancrofti infection is associated with progression to clinical visceral leishmaniasis in VL- endemic areas in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India.

Background: Co-endemicity of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) necessitates that these diseases should be considered concomitantly to understand the relationship between pathology and to support disease management and control programs. The aims of the study were to assess the prevalence of filarial infection in asymptomatic Leishmania donovani infected individuals and the correlation of Wuchereria bancrofti infection with progression to clinical visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Bihar, India.

Methodology/principal Findings: Within the Muzaffarpur-TMRC Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) area, a cohort of Leishmania seropositive (n = 476) or seronegative individuals (n = 1130) were sampled annually for three years for filarial infection and followed for progression to clinical VL.

Polyubiquitin protein of Aedes aegypti as an interacting partner of dengue virus envelope protein.

Dengue virus (DENV) is an arbovirus that comprises four antigenically different serotypes. Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) acts as the principal vector for DENV transmission, and vector control is crucial for dengue fever epidemic management. To design effective vector control strategies, a comprehensive understanding of the insect vector and virus interaction is required.